Welcome to MUNDIAL’s Monday Hat-Trick. Three very short stories about three football things that excited, intrigued or shocked us over the course of the weekend. It’s as simple as that.
FIRST THE POINTS, THEN THE PINTS
What you’re always looking for is someone you are able to say they just get it about. Could be a new potential love of your life, or a new work colleague or someone who is helping you decorate your house, or it could be a football manager. You want a new football manager to get your club, to get your city, to get you.
At the weekend, Vitor Pereira’s Wolverhampton Wanderers won their fourth game in a row, something the club has never done in the Premier League, and nestled in the Southbank of Molineux was a banner that encapsulated the lot: First The Points, Then The Pints. It’s something that Vitor has spoken about a lot over the last few weeks.
It’s not that Wolves fans weren’t behind Vitor when he arrived, but we were definitely cautious. One look at a Wikipedia CV that reads something like 14 clubs in 20 years with everyone from Porto to Al Shabab, Fenerbahçe to 1860 Munich, Corinthians to Olympiacos involved doesn’t necessarily make you feel that he’s going to stick around in Wolverhampton.
But he’s brought order to the team, managed some difficult disciplinary moments brilliantly, and spoken eloquently about life, optimism, and, crucially, pints.
After Wolves’ recent wins, Vitor has told journalists and fans that having a pie and a pint, getting energy off the club’s fans and the city itself is what feeds him, what makes him tick, what gives him the inspiration to push the team to be the best it can. And, there he was again last night, in The Moon Under The Water in the centre of town, celebrating with the fans, having a laugh, getting that energy.
We’re easily angered but also easily pleased, football fans. If a manager is talking about having a pint, then it’s easy to say they just get it. And, maybe, Vitor Pereira is both the new love of Wolves fans’ life, their new dream work colleague, the person who is redecorating the interior of their house, and the football manager they’ve been waiting for all rolled into one.